Merzouga City

Morocco’s classic Sahara gateway - a village at the foot of the towering Erg Chebbi dunes, the launch point for camel treks, desert camps under the stars, and dawn over an ocean of sand.

Why go / don’t miss: camel trekking into the Erg Chebbi dunes and an overnight in a Berber desert camp, sunrise and sunset over the sands, 4x4 and quad-bike desert tours, sandboarding, the nomad and Gnawa music culture of Khamlia, and the desert lake (with flamingos after rain).

Neighborhoods: the village and the string of kasbah hotels along the edge of the dunes.

Getting around: 4x4 transfers, camels and quad bikes; a car (or organised tour) reaches Merzouga from Marrakesh/Fez.

When to go: Oct - Apr is best (spring and autumn ideal); summer is dangerously hot, winter nights are cold.

Where to stay: a kasbah hotel at the dune’s edge, or an overnight desert camp among the dunes.

Dining: Moroccan-Berber fare - tagines, couscous, medfouna (“Berber pizza”), and mint tea.

Local tips: do an overnight camel trek and camp for the sunset, sunrise and stars, come outside the summer heat, and it’s a long drive - many visit on a multi-day tour from Marrakesh or Fez.

Merzouga exists for one reason, and it’s a spectacular one: the dunes of Erg Chebbi, a genuine slice of the great Sahara. Riding a camel over the crests at sunset, sleeping in a Berber tent under a blaze of stars, and watching the sun rise over an endless ocean of orange sand is one of Morocco’s - and North Africa’s - most unforgettable experiences. Beyond the dunes there’s nomad and Gnawa music culture, fossil-rich desert and 4x4 adventure, all in a landscape unlike anywhere else.

• Camel trek into Erg Chebbi - the classic ride over the dunes to an overnight desert camp.
• Desert camp under the stars - from simple Berber tents to luxury glamping, with music around the fire.
• Sunrise and sunset over the dunes - the light show that makes the trip.
• 4x4 and quad-bike tours - across the sands to nomad camps and viewpoints.
• Sandboarding down the dunes.
• Khamlia - a village of Gnawa musicians descended from sub-Saharan Africa.
• Dayet Srji - a seasonal desert lake that draws flamingos after rain.

The ideal months are October to April, when daytime temperatures are pleasant for desert activities - spring (March - April) and autumn (October - November) are perfect. Summer (June - August) is brutally, dangerously hot, with temperatures well over 40°C, and best avoided. Winter days are mild and lovely, but desert nights can be genuinely cold, so pack warm layers whenever you go. Whatever the season, the dunes are at their most magical at sunrise and sunset.

Merzouga is remote, at the end of a long drive across southern Morocco. Most visitors arrive on a multi-day tour or by hired car/driver from Marrakesh (around 9 - 10 hours, usually split over 2 - 3 days via the Dades and Todra gorges) or from Fez (around 7 - 8 hours). There are also buses to nearby Rissani/Erfoud, and a small airport at Errachidia. Once there, exploring the dunes is done on camelback, by 4x4 or quad bike, or on foot - always with a local guide, as the desert is disorienting and hazardous alone.

The signature experience is a night in a desert camp among the dunes - ranging from simple Berber bivouacs to luxurious “glamping” with en-suite tents and fine dining. In the village and along the edge of Erg Chebbi, a string of kasbah-style hotels and guesthouses offer comfortable rooms with dune views, pools and easy access to camel treks. Most visitors combine a night in a hotel with at least one night out in the dunes for the full desert experience.

Dining is at your hotel, guesthouse or desert camp, serving hearty Moroccan-Berber fare: tagines, couscous, harira soup, grilled meats and the local specialty medfouna (a stuffed flatbread known as “Berber pizza”), finished with sweet mint tea. Meals in the desert camps, eaten under the stars and often accompanied by drumming and music, are part of the experience. Bring plenty of water for any time out on the dunes.